DELIVERY STARTUP SIGNS MAJOR DEAL WITH EBAY AND DHL

SYDNEY-based delivery startup HUBBED has joined the big leagues, announcing two new partnerships with eBay and DHL eCommerce.

HUBBED is a network of transport companies and more than 1,000 retail businesses, including news agents and service stations, creating a hybrid between online and physical retail shopping.

The new eBay partnership means that eBay sellers will be able to drop off their customers' goods at any of HUBBED's 1000 stores, most of which are open 24/7.

On the other hand, the DHL eCommerce agreement means that Aussie online sellers (including eBay sellers) will be able to send their parcels from any of HUBBED's locations by simply dropping their package off at a store.

One of the main ideas behind HUBBED, which entered the market in 2013, was to create a way to send and receive packages outside of normal business hours.

David McLean, founder and CEO, says these new partnerships go a long way to achieving that goal.

David McLean, founder & CEO of HUBBED

"Until now, online sellers were required to drop off their parcels during business hours at the post office or waited around for a pick up," says McLean.

"Now sellers can drop off at a location close by at a time that suits them including weekends."

Online shopping in Australia has now become a $20 billion a year market.